Radio Made in Michigan

4:59 pm

Thu January 31, 2013

Current State #14 | January 31, 2013

Today on Current State: A journalists' roundtable explores the issues that made the news in January, a conversation with a Michigan National Guard soldier recently returned from Afghanistan, "QuizBusters'" host Matt Ottinger, and a preview of the annual Mid-Winter Singing Festival.

Michigan political leaders made news in January with their assessments of the state's and city of Lansing's fortunes. And two established local leaders -- state senator Gretchen Whitmer and Lansing City Council president Carol Wood -- have just announced they'll not seek higher offices.

Current State's Mark Bashore reviews these developments with reporters Angela Wittrock from MLive.com, Walt Sorg of the Lansing City Pulse and Lansing State Journal editorial page editor Mickey Hirten.

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22:39

Michigan National Guardsman recalls tour of duty in Afghanistan

Lieutenant Sean Nelson and his Jackson-based 303rd Military Police Company just returned earlier this week from Kandahar, Afghanistan. They spent nine months training Afghan police. While there, the company experienced one so-called "green on blue" attack. Lt. Nelson tells us about his experience.

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8:36

WKAR-TV icon Matt Ottinger tells of the jeopardy and fortune of a game show host's life

The top teams are nearing the finals of WKAR-TV's "QuizBusters." "QuizBusters" pits student-contestants from mid-Michigan high schools against each other in a contest of knowledge and skill. Matt Ottinger has been the host of the show since it began in the late 1980's. He's also a game show buff, having been on several himself, including "Jeopardy." With the competition heating up, "Current State's" Mark Bashore asked Ottinger into the studio to talk about "QuizBusters" and more.

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8:27

Mid-Winter Singing Festival is a favorite mid-Michigan tradition

The 11th edition of the Lansing area tradition takes place this Friday and Saturday at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing. Dan Chouinard, Joel Mabus, Kim and Reggie Harris and many other musicians will be on hand to perform. Current State's Peter Whorf talks with Mid-Winter Singing Festival founder Sally Potter.